Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;mi01764&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘MI01764’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; strong and flexible flowering stems; outwardly arching leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; dark purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Phalaenopsis Plants

Inventor: Febe Flore

Filed: Jun. 27, 2022

Ser. No.: 63/356,011

Inventor and Applicant/Assignee hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Microflor N. V. of Lochristi, Belgium on Mar. 25, 2022, application number 2022/0780. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI01764’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI01764’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and relatively large flowers with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in April, 2014 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00312, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00345, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in December, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium since April, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MI01764’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MI01764’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strong and flexible flowering sterns.     -   4. Outwardly arching leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Dark purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are taller than and not as         compact as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are dark purple in         color with white-colored margins whereas flowers of plants of         the female parent selection are purplish pink in color with         white-colored margins.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have smaller flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are dark purple in         color with white-colored margins whereas flowers of plants of         the male parent selection are white in color with reddish         purple-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Cha-Cha’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis do not have stripes         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ are striped.     -   2. Lateral sepals of flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis         are ovate to lanceolate and asymmetrical in shape whereas         lateral sepals of flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ are elliptical         and symmetrical in shape.     -   3. Cirrhose tips of flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis         are longer than cirrhose tips of flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI01764’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘MI01764’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and early winter in 9-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18C to 29C and light levels ranged from 150 Watt/m² to 375 Watt/m². Plants were 70 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI01764’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PHM00312, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PHM00345, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at             temperatures about 26C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at             temperatures about 26C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to             160 days at temperatures about 26C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to             180 days at temperatures about 26C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form in and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             9.5 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 41 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 36 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             seven leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Unequal obtuse.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Close to 137A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to             137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C;             venation, close to 137C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 21             flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences             supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,             two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a             labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 16 to 17 weeks             after an inductive cooling period; flowers open about six             weeks after flower buds develop.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about ten weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 25 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 18 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 194C shaded with close to 187A             and venation, close to 187A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2.6 cm.             Shape: Trullate to deltoid. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire to             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A;             towards the margins, close to 155D; color does not change             with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 77A; towards the center, close to             155D; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a             central lobe. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm.             Shape, lateral lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe:             Trullate. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe:             Slightly cleft with two short, narrow and recurved cirrhose             tips. Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at the base             of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral petals;             about 3 mm in length, about 3 mm in width and about 4 mm in             height. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to 155D; large spot near base, close to             187A; smaller spots in the center, close to 187A; and             smaller spots towards the apex, close to 78B. Central lobe:             Center, close to 155D; towards the base, close to 78B;             spots, close to 187B. Callosities: Close to 187A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Lateral and central             lobes: Close to 155D with colors of the upper surface             visible.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral             sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:             About 2.7 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.7 cm. Length,             dorsal sepal: About 1.6 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About             1.3 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate to lanceolate;             asymmetrical. Shape, dorsal sepal: Narrowly elliptic. Apex,             lateral sepals: Bluntly acute. Apex, dorsal sepal: Obtuse.             Base, lateral and dorsal sepals: Obtuse. Margin, lateral and             dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, lateral and             dorsal sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Color, lateral and dorsal sepals: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 77A;             center, close to 155D; venation, close to 77A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 41 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Initially about             65 degrees from horizontal to mostly upright with             development. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 200A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 90 degrees from             peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Proximally, close to 187A and distally, close to             145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.             Column width: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Column color: Close to             155D slightly blushed with close to 78B. Pollinia quantity:             Two. Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 3 mm.             Pollinia color: Close to 25B. Gynoecium: Stigma length:             About 4 mm. Stigma width: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:             Broadly rhombic. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary length:             About 1.5 cm. Ovary diameter: About 2 mm. Ovary color: Close             to 145C; distally, slightly blushed with close to 80C. Seeds             and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15C to about     40C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01764’ as illustrated and described. 